And that fact alone made her uncomfortable.
Elion had returned today.
She didn’t know what work he had gone out for, but when she had seen him earlier, his mood hadn’t looked good at all—cold, heavy, as if something was wrong.
But what does that have to do with me?
As if it matters, she thought, puffing her cheeks slightly.
Hmph.
Then it hit her.
Wait… it does matter.
Because Elion was going to be here.
This was his room too.
Which meant—
He’s going to sleep here.
She suddenly realized something important.
She had grown careless while he was gone. She hadn’t even changed her room.
Evandria placed a hand on her head in disbelief.
I should have changed my room while he wasn’t here…
Then another thought crept in.
But what if I had changed rooms and he got angry?
What if he thought I was disrespecting him… and ended up beating me? like the rumors said he had done to his first wife?
She paused.
Then frowned.
As if I’d let him beat me.
Her lips pressed into a determined line.
No. It doesn’t matter anymore.
If he tries anything funny.....I’ll smash his head.
She clenched one fist in the air.
It would have looked threatening—
If not for how small and adorable she looked doing it.
***
Meanwhile, Elion was still in his study.
He checked several documents and placed them neatly into a drawer. As he did, his eyes briefly paused on the topmost paper—sealed with the crest of House Bloomward.
He slid it inside with cold expression.
The rest were ordinary documents. He reviewed them, signed where necessary, and closed the file.
“It’s already late…”
Elion stood up, took his coat from the hanger, put it on, and headed toward the bedroom.
***
Step. Step.
Evandria heard the sound of approaching footsteps.
Her breath hitched.
He’s coming.
Her heart started racing.
He’s here!
What should I do?!
Evandria panicked internally.
I’ll go sleep in another room—
No… if I do that, then what will the servants think?
Then… the sofa!
She hurriedly grabbed a pillow from the bed—
But then…
Creak.
The door slowly opened.
The sound cut straight through her racing thoughts.
***
Elion opened the door—
And froze.
Evandria was standing beside the bed, a pillow clutched tightly in her hands.
She was staring straight at him.
Elion looked at her for a moment, his gaze slowly traveling from the pillow to her tense posture, clearly trying to understand what she was attempting to do.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
Evandria didn’t answer.
She just stared at him.
I-Is he going to yell at me?
Or… is he going to beat me?
If he tries to hit me, I’ll smash his face with this pillow!
I’m not weak. I’m strong.
Elion spoke again, his voice calm and flat.
“I asked what you’re trying to do.”
“Oh… um—”
She froze.
Her mind went blank.
Then she suddenly blurted out, panicking—
“J-Just so you know! If you try anything funny, I-I’ll kill you! I-I’ll punch your stomach!”
She meant to sound threatening—
But it came out awkward… and oddly cute.
Elion narrowed his eyes slightly, clearly confused by everything she just said. He stared at her for a brief moment, as if trying to process her words.
Then he simply walked past her toward the hanger.
Oops… what am I even saying?
If he wasn’t angry before, I’m definitely making him angry now…
Elion placed his coat on the hanger and walked toward the wardrobe.
“You can sleep on the bed,” he said calmly.
“I’ll sleep on the sofa.”
“Excuse me?” Evandria blurted out instantly.
Elion took another coat from the wardrobe, glanced at her and paused briefly.
Then he repeated evenly.
“I said,”
“you can sleep on the bed. I’ll sleep on the sofa.”
Evandria was completely confused by what he was saying, staring at him in disbelief.
“Oh… eh… what?” she murmured softly.
“Are you deaf?” Elion asked.
“No—no! I-I get it,” she replied quickly.
Still, she kept staring at him in disbelief.
Elion put on the coat and turned toward the door.
Just before he left, Evandria spoke again.
“Where are you going?” She asked without thinking.
The moment the words left her mouth—
Elion stopped.
Oops.
He looks angry. He’s definitely going to yell at me.
Evandria, you idiot!
Why did you even ask that?
What does it matter to you where he goes or not?!
Elion turned back and looked at her.
After a brief pause, he said,
“I’m going outside. I have some work.”
“You can go ahead and sleep. Don’t stay up too late.”
And with that, he left the room.
“Okay,” Evandria said.
…Only in her head.
She realized a second later that she hadn’t actually spoken out loud.
What was that?
That’s it?
She stood there in shock for a moment, then slowly placed the pillow back on the bed.
A while later, she looked out through the window.
She saw Elion leaving the manor—
Not through the main gate,
but through the back gate, leading behind the estate.
Evandria watched quietly.
Still confused.
***
When Evandria woke up the next morning, her eyes instinctively moved toward the sofa.
Elion was there.
Sleeping.
Is he really sleeping on the sofa?
She stared at him in disbelief.
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